Left on the Shelf

Vinted

About the Author

Katie Clapham is the co-owner of independent bookshop Storytellers, Inc. with her mum. Picked by The Bookseller as a rising star, Katie was also named Best Young Bookseller at the British Book Awards. Katie is the author of acclaimed teen comedy Three Girls (UCLan, 2022), and The Missing Bookshop (Stripes, 2019). She lives by the sea with her husband, daughter and dog, where she writes the popular Substack newsletter, Receipt from the Bookshop, as well as working in the bookshop.

You can also find Katie at:

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!)

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Hot Food Nice! by Michael Rosen & Illustrated by Neal Layton - #bookreview

When I was a boy, I thought my dad knew everything...

***

The Blurb

Young Michael thinks his dad knows everything. But then one day, one terrible day, he found that his dad does NOT know everything: this is how it goes. They sit down to eat, and the potato’s a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on it to cool it down before eating it. His brother knows it, and his mum knows it. So why does his dad pop it straight into this mouth? And what happens next? A funny slice of family life, told in irresistible repetitive text, that will delight young and old alike.

My Review

This has come from Michael Rosen's book of Nice poems.

I have a soft spot for any work by this author as I remember how much my children and I enjoyed sharing his poems when they were young. Happy days. Now, I have the joy of sharing them with my grandchildren too. They will absolutely love this picture book.

As always, the author has written a poem whereby he understands how children think. The overgrown child in me laughed out loud while I read this poem. Michael Rosen captures the spirit of the child in his words.

It has been beautifully illustrated by Neal Layton in a simple design which really add something to the text. The bright colours will appeal to young children and I could almost feel the heat emanating from the illustrations of his pile of hot potato.

This lovely picture book deserves to be in every home and school library. I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: I recently spent a weekend with two of my grandchildren who are 2 and 4 years old. I lost count of how many times they asked me to read this book to them. A wonderful book for sharing.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1529530223

Publisher: Walker Books

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 32 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon US

About the Author

Michael Rosen is a multi-award-winning poet, a popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and one of the most popular authors for children. He has written over 200 books in a career spanning over five decades, including the internationally bestselling We're Going on a Bear Hunt, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.

His poems, about family life, childhood and a good deal of silliness, have reached millions through his exuberant online readings. In 2026 he won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing (the first UK winner for 16 years), as well as a British Book Award for Best Children's Illustrated & Non-Fiction Book of the Year for his new collaboration with Helen Oxenbury, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!

Michael was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.

You can also find Michael at:

About the Illustrator

Born in Chichester, multi award-winning author and Illustrator Neal Layton works on a plethora of publications for children from his treasure-filled studio in the Isle of Wight.

A former student at Newcastle and Central St Martins, Neal has become an avid collector and compulsive scribbler, deftly combining a multitude of styles and techniques in colour and black and white, from pen and ink to collage and digital methods creating fresh and spontaneous illustrations for fiction, non-fiction and novelty books. With a clutch of awards under his belt including the prestigious Sheffield Children’s Book Prize Neal has been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the country’s best loved authors including Nicola Davies, Cressida Cowell, Andy Stanton and Michael Rosen.

Neal is extremely passionate about conservation and inclusivity and this shines through in many of his recent author-illustrated publications. Well versed in discussing and demonstrating his work, Neal takes part in a variety of events including large scale festivals and conferences.

Amazing Fact – Neal Layton is also an extreme skateboarder.

You can also find Neal at:

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham

Other Blog Posts Featuring Picture Books

L is for Love by Atinuke

Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot

(book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Friday, 14 November 2025

Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot & Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley - #bookreview

Yay! It's library day.

The doors SWISH open.

I slide my old books down the chute.

The Blurb

In this sweet and tender picture book, a trip to the library turns into an adventure in kindness and a reminder that people experiencing homelessness deserve compassion and respect--just like every human.

During a visit to the library, Brian is sure he sees his Pop-Pop around the corner--same eyes, same beard, same bushy eyebrows.

Nope, that's not Pop-Pop!

This man brushes his teeth in the restroom and his sneakers are patched with duct tape. Some people make frowny faces and even call him mean words, but Not Pop-Pop loves books, puzzles, and turtles, just like Brian.

He may not be Brian's pop-pop, but could he be someone's?

Not Pop-Pop also includes a kid-friendly resource for adults to begin conversations about homelessness, empathy, and ways that anyone can make a big difference in the life of a person in need.

My Review

Not Pop Pop is a touching story and is perfect for sharing with children.

The story begins with a young boy, Brian, and his mum entering the library to exchange his books. When he thinks he spots his own Pop Pop he becomes very excited but soon realises that it is not his Pop Pop. Instead, he finds a man who is shabbily dressed, who brushes his teeth in the sink in the library toilets and who seems to be living in his car.

This realisation leads to his mum explaining to him about homelessness. Whilst, other library users are disapproving and even call Pop Pop unwelcome names, his mum is able to teach him about compassion and understanding of those less fortunate than ourselves.

The colourful illustrations by MacKenzie Healey support the text perfectly and will catch the eye of young readers.

Additionally, at the back of the book are sections about homelessness intended for both children and their parents/carers. Headed as Understanding Homelessness, How we can Help and For Parents, Caregivers and Teachers, there is something for everyone in this lovely picture book.

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month in the US and an ideal time to share this book with little ones. In the UK we mark World Homeless Day on the 10th October. That said, this would be a marvellous book to share with children at any time and to introduce this important issue.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0593578926

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Formats: e-book and hardback

No. of Pages: 40 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Amazon US

About the Author

Angela De Groot was born in England, grew up in South Africa, and now lives in New Jersey with her family.

Angela’s debut picture book, NOT POP-POP (PRH/Waterbrook) is a 2025 Moon Beam Gold Medal Winner for Compassion and a 2025 Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award finalist. Angela hopes that her writing inspires curiosity and compassion while creating worlds that readers can find and lose themselves in.

A lifelong lover of reading and writing, Angela teaches ESL and Basic Literacy at her local library. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her in the garden talking to the birds.

Author Website

Facebook

(book and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Tiger's Last Roar by Harriet Howe and Katie Cottle - #bookreview

Tiger and Mae

Queens of the Jungle

The greatest explorers...

The Blurb

After a whole day of exploring with Tiger, Mae loved drawing with Tiger and telling stories with Tiger.

Always with Tiger. Tiger and Mae. Queens of the Jungle.

Tiger and Mae do everything together, the very best of friends. But there is nothing they love more than exploring, racing and chasing across their jungle. That is, until the call comes for "TEATIME!" and they race back to the house. As time moves on, Mae realises that Tiger is getting old and tired. And when Tiger then dies, Mae feels lost in a whirlwind of anger, fear and sadness. Even the safety of their jungle is stripped away. Only through time and healing does Mae learn that Tiger lives on - through her memories, pictures and their jungle itself.

This book is a profoundly moving, hopeful and reassuring story that celebrates the strength that comes from love and supports a child (and adults too) through navigating the loss of a beloved pet. A necessary and important book for your bookshelf.

My Review

This is a moving story about losing a pet. The death of a pet is a difficult enough experience when you are an adult, but for children, it can be a sad and confusing time. This book is a reassuring story about Mae and her pet cat, Tiger. They do everything together, and across a few short pages, we observe Tiger ageing. As he grows older, he slows down and sleeps more, but is always there for Mae, until one day when he doesn't come home. Mae has to deal with the myriad of emotions of his loss. Sometimes she is quiet, other times she is angry, until the time comes when she shuts herself away completely. However, the book culminates in hope when she realises that although Tiger has gone, he will always be with her and around her. This book has been beautifully illustrated by Katie Cottle, and I love the way the colour palette changes based on Mae's emotions. They combine perfectly with the excellent text to produce a book that is just perfect to help both children and their adults to deal with such a difficult time. In fact, there is a section at the back of the book which is dedicated to adults in supporting their child cope with the loss of a pet. Publishing on the 11th September, this debut book is a perfect one to have on the shelf at home or in the classroom for when a child has to face the devastating loss of a pet. I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1800789302

Publisher: Templar Books

Formats: paperback

No. of Pages: 40

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author

Harriet's first word was "book", she's loved stories ever since, so it's a dream come true to end up writing her own. Originally from London, she now lives in Suffolk with her family. When not writing, Harriet works in television; she's filmed talking horses, chefs in jets and pop princesses in fabulous dresses. But she's happiest with a pencil in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, brewing up her next story.

You can also find Harriet at:

Bluesky

About the Illustrator

Katie Cottle is a freelance illustrator and picture-bookmaker based in Bristol. Originally from Swansea, Katie graduated from the Illustration course at the University of the West of England in 2017. She enjoys telling stories through drawing, and uses a variety of media, including a mix of traditional and digital techniques. She was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for The Blue Giant. She particularly enjoys using bright colours and drawing grumpy faces.

You can also find Katie at:

Website

(ARC and media courtesy of Bonnier Books)

(Illustrator photo courtesy of katiecottle.com/)

(all opinions are my own)(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Thursday, 14 August 2025

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham and Nadia Shireen - #bookreview

When you show a New Person around, it's called giving them The Tour...

***

The Blurb

The hilarious and heartfelt debut picture book from Katie Clapham, illustrated by Nadia Shireen - creator of the bestselling, highly acclaimed Grimwood series and Barbara Throws a Wobbler - will help kids feel better about those first-day-at-school nerves, as well as encouraging all children to create a safe and welcoming space for others.

Because, really, starting school can be scary. And being a New Kid in a new school can also be very scary. Luckily, this book will help soothe first-day nerves, make kids feel excited about the challenge and also show children how to be the PERFECT Tour Guide and make any New Kid feel right at home. And did we mention this book is very funny? Because it really is.

So, come along and join THE TOUR with Katie Clapham and Nadia Shireen. First stop? The toilets. Because they're great for singing in. (And also for weeing.) And don't forget to show them the library and its one MILLION books (remember to use your quiet mouse voice!), the playground (where you can play Worldwide Hairdressers!) and ... the EMERGENCY MEET UP PLACE (just in case anyone gets lost). But REMEMBER, sometimes when you're a New Kid it can all be ... a bit too much. And that's when the New Kid doesn't need you to be a tour guide anymore, they need you to be ... a friend.

My Review

This is a delightful picture book, aimed at those about to start school or nursery, and also for those who may just be the tour guide themselves.

I liked this book very much, and I haven't come across another like it. I could well imagine sharing this with my children when they were young. The first day of school/nursery can be an anxious time for little ones, and I think sharing this book with an adult beforehand may well help with easing those anxieties and perhaps would give rise to a conversation about the specifics of a child's fears.

However, I think this would work equally well in a reception school classroom. Teachers could use this to help children become responsible tour guides.

I also loved the humour in this book. Our young tour guide in this book shows the new child where the toilets are, informing them that it is a great place for singing, the soap smells like strawberries and finally, a good place for "weeing." I laughed when that was used as the final bit of information.

The whole book is filled with amusing facts such as that, and culminates in a friendship forming between the two.

A lovely little book that has been nicely illustrated and will have great appeal for young children.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1529505740

Publisher: Walker Books

Formats: Hardback

No. of Pages: 40

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

About the Author

You can also find Katie at:

About the Illustrator

Nadia Shireen has been making picture books since 2010, when her debut Good Little Wolf burst onto the scene and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Since then, she’s written and illustrated many more picture books including Barbara Throws a Wobbler, Billy and the Beast and Geoffrey Gets the Jitters. In 2017, The Bumblebear was distributed to over 700,000 children as part of Booktrust's Time To Read campaign. Her anarchic series for older readers, Grimwood, was a World Book Day title in 2022 and has taken the playgrounds of the nation by storm. Nadia has won the UKLA book prize twice, though she has lost loads of others (she still enjoys being nominated though.) She co-presents a podcast about children’s books called The Island Of Brilliant with writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

You can also find Nadia at:

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Facebook

Bluesky

(Book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo courtesy of her instagram page)

(all opinions are my own)

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

The Thief of Farrowfell Hall by Ravena Guron & Illustrated by Alessia Trunfio - #bookreview #blogtour

Jude Ripon loved stealing.

Not just magic, or money, or diamonds and gold, though they were all fun things to pinch. She liked the quiet moment when she snuck through mansions of the rich... stolen seconds of living someone else's life...

***

The Blurb

Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or - in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell - those who can steal it!

Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.

Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .

But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.

While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.

Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more . . .

My Review

This book will be a delight to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy.

It is a fast paced fantasy adventure story with lots happening on every page. I'm not certain I have ever come across the concept of magic being edible and I appreciated its uniqueness.

The main character, Jude Ripon lives amongst her family of thieves at Ripon Headquarters. They steal magic and keep it for themselves. Jude is the youngest of the family and when she attempts to prove herself as a true Ripon, she finds herself in a lot of trouble and unleashes a curse. The story is then taken up by how she can lift this curse before anyone in the family finds out.

I really loved Jude's character. Her bravery is admirable and she is a determined young girl. In fact, all of the characters in this book are interesting. The family are lead by Granleader and the dynamics within the family are well portrayed. Jude's sister, Moorley is the most popular in the family and Jude resents this very much. I loved the way the sisters relationship develops through the book.

The author develops both character and plot extremely well and has created a world and society which is well-imagined and also believable. Although there are themes of addiction in the story, it is portrayed in a way that is suitable for middle grade readers.

The book is the first in a series. The second book, The Beast of Farrowfell is already available, and the third, The Battle of Farrowfell is being published on the 8th of May and can be pre-ordered.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0571371174

Publisher: Faber

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 320 (paperback)

Purchase Links

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Blackwell's

About the Author

A born and bred Londoner, Ravena writes MG and YA, usually featuring antiheroines or snarky narrators. She is a lawyer with a degree in biochemistry, and hopes to use the knowledge gained from her experiences to plot her books, whether that's wild MG fantasy adventures, or twisty YA murder mysteries.

Why not check out some of the other fabulous bloggers on this tour.

(book and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Wednesday, 12 March 2025

Cat and Dumpling: Home Sweet Home by Nicola Kent - #bookreview

Meet Cat and Dumpling. Cat is a cat. Dumpling is a dog. Cat likes knitting; Dumpling likes gardening. Cat likes cunning plans; Dumpling likes a quiet life. They are very different, like chalk and cheese!

And this is the story of how they first met...

***

The Blurb

Cat and Dumpling are best friends, but they're very different. Cat is an impulsive dreamer who loves to knit, and Dumpling is a cautious planner who loves gardening. In these chapter books for early readers, the pair's far-fetched schemes and conflicting ideas wreak warm-hearted slapstick havoc, but always with a happy ending and a reassertion that despite their differences Cat and Dumpling will always be the very best of friends.

In Home Sweet Home, Cat and Dumpling meet for the very first time. They're both searching for the perfect home and have very different needs. Eventually they stumble across the perfect place-the only problem is, they both want the same flat! Can the pair survive as flatmates, or will their differences just be too much to overcome?

My Review

This is a charming book that will appeal to early readers.

Cat and Dumpling are adorable characters. I think the author has done a great job to convey their personalities in so few words. The reader really gets a sense of their differences and similarities.

Children will enjoy this book regardless of whether they have a pet of their own. Cat and Dumpling both demonstrate the quirkiness that a pet can have beautifully.

It is well written for early independent readers, particularly those who are ready to embrace chapter books. Indeed, this would be a perfect book to introduce children to the concept of chapters within a book.

The author has illustrated the book to enhance the text and it does so very well. I like the simple and colourful nature of the pictures.

The book has much to say about kindness, sharing and compromise and is a joy to read.

I am delighted that Cat and Dumpling will be back later this year with the upcoming book, Cat and Dumpling: The Talent Show.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0192788450

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Formats: Paperback

No. of Pages: 96

Purchase Details

About the Author

Nicola lives in Hackney, London with her partner, two teenage children, a cat called Firelight and a dog called Milly.

She grew up in north London and has been writing stories and drawing pictures for as long as she can remember. She made her first picture book in a sketchbook with her mum when she was five.

When she left school, she studied English and Art at university, and then got a place on a traineeship with BBC Television. She worked as a producer for over ten years, making programmes about subjects as diverse as priceless paintings and problem pets!

After she had her children, she decided to follow her dream of making books for children and went back to college to study an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Her debut book The Strongest Mum was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, and in 2019 she won the Independent Booksellers’ Best New Illustrator Award.

She is now creating books for children from 0-7, including novelty board books, non-fiction books and early chapter books as well as picture books.

When she is not at her desk she loves reading, brisk walking, going to the cinema and theatre, and cuddling her cat and dog.

You can also find Nicola at:

(book and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Friday, 24 January 2025

The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Folklore Magick: by Lindsay Squire - Illustrated by Viki Lester - #bookreview

What is folklore? Folklore refers to stories, beliefs, traditions and myths from a specific group of people or culture that have been passed down through the generations by word of mouth rather than written down...

***

The Blurb

This enchanting guide connects you to the wisdom of Witches past to expand and enrich your Witchcraft practice.

The myths, legends, and superstitions of the past offer a window into how common people made sense of their world. Because they were excluded from the halls of academia and the seats of power, they had no choice but to get on with day-to-day life, healing, birthing, and persisting as best they could.

Often, it would be the village medicine women who held the handed-down knowledge of those who had gone before, and generation by generation, they would build on this to develop a profound understanding of the healing and magickal properties of nature.

It is from this deep well of folkloric knowledge that modern-day Witch Lindsay Squire draws this inclusive and accessible beginner's guide.

Add enchantment to your life by learning:

What folklore is and how it connects to the practice of Witchcraft

The magickal legends and superstitions attached to plants and trees

The folk magick, charms, and spells associated with herbs both beneficial and baneful

How to use plants in your own Witchcraft practice

The folklore of different historical Witches and natural healers from around the world … and more!

With rituals, lore, and wisdom from The Witch of the Forest’s personal grimoire, find out how connecting with folklore can empower every modern Witch.

My Review

Having fairly recently read the graphic novel, Witchcraft: A History: Stories of Wise Women, Healers and Magic by this author I was keen to try one of her other books. You can find my review by clicking on the title.

Having now read this book I am very impressed by her knowledge and the book has been organised in such a way to demonstrate this perfectly. It has been broken down into four sections, the first being practical folk herbalism in which the author writes about the different ways in which herbs and flowers can be used e.g. as a tea, infusion or a salve to name but a few.

Additionally, there are sections on herbs and flowers, trees and the part that baneful herbs have played in folklore. Each section explains the folklore and magickal properties of each of the plants and how they can be used in a magickal or medicinal way.

Although the book is aimed at those who wish to hone their own Craft, I think this has a much wider appeal. An interest in folklore or the medicinal applications of using herbs and flowers made this a fascinating book to read. For instance, did you know that the ancient Romans, Egyptians and Greeks used the chamomile flower to illuminate the skin and to treat skin conditions? This booked is jammed pack of such interesting information and I devoured it.

It is also beautifully illustrated by Viki Lester, and it was a joy just to look through the pictures. An excellent book which I heartily recommend.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0711293878

Publisher: Leaping Hare Press

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 176 (paperback)

Preorder Links

Amazon US

About the Author

Lindsay is a witchcraft practitioner who has been walking her own spiritual path for nearly two decades.

She is a professional tarot reader, spiritual advisor & the face behind the Instagram sensation 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 - an account dedicated to helping & empowering those at the beginning of their witchcraft journey forge their own path.

Lindsay is also an international bestselling author, writing about witchcraft, earth spirituality, folk magick & folklore, tarot, astrology, Paganism, spells & rituals as well as being a mentor to witches of all levels of experience grow in their craft.

She lives in her county of Yorkshire, England with her three mischievous black cats.

You can also find Lindsay at: